Delta II | Deep Impact (DIF)

Launch Provider & Rocket

• Provider: United States Air Force (Government)
• Rocket: Delta II 7925-9.5 — Delta family

Mission

Deep Impact was to fly by Comet 9P/Tempel-1 on 3 July 2005. An impacter it released was to hit the comet on 4 July at 10.2 km/s, producing a crater and ejecta plume that would allow the flyby spacecraft to determine the composition and structure of the comet's nucleus.

• Type: Planetary Science
• Orbit: Asteroid (Asteroid)

Launch Site

• Pad: Space Launch Complex 17B
• Location: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
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Program

• Discovery Program — The Discovery Program is a series of Solar System exploration missions funded by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through its Planetary Missions Program Office. The cost of each mission is capped at a lower level than missions from NASA's New Frontiers or Flagship Programs. As a result, Discovery missions tend to be more focused on a specific scientific goal rather than serving a general purpose. (Wikipedia)